Doorlatch



E. L. WILSON March 6, 1934.

DOORLATCH Filed Oct. 22, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 22,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a door latch structure embodying a latch or bolt and an inner or outer knob whereby it may be actuated, the invention being specially directed to means whereby rotation of the inner knob in one direction may be transmitted to render the outer knob inoperative to actuate the latch.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of door latches; to provide a door latch comprising a housing, an outer and an inner knob mounted thereon, a latch adapted to be re tracted by either knob, and means actuated by rotation of the inner knob in one direction for rendering the outer knob inoperative to retract the latch; and, further, to provide key actuated means operable from the exterior surface of the door for restoring the outer knob to operative condition so as to make it possible to retract the latch.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan section of the door latch and the actuating mechanism showing it installed in a door,

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line II-II of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section taken at right angles to Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line VV of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view or the main hous- Fig. '7 is a perspective View of the auxiliary housing,

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the head members disposed at opposite ends of the housings 6 and 7,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the rollback members,

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the retractor,

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of another rollback member,

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of the dogging member,

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of an adjusting plate,

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the two spindle sections,

Fig. 16 is a perspective View of a key.

Referring to the drawings in detail and especially Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates a door in which is formed a pair of openings such as indicated 1930, Serial No. 490,443

at 2 and 3, one for the reception of a latch or bolt B, and the other for the reception of a latch actuating mechanism generally indicated at C. The latch actuating mechanism is enclosed in a housing consisting of a pair of cylindrical shaped members 4 and 5, see Figs. 6 and 7, mounted one within the other as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Disposed at opposite ends of the housing member 5 are head members 6 and 7, see Figs. 1, 8 and 9. Extending through the head members are inner and outer spindle sections such as indicated at 10 and 11 respectively and secured on the respective spindle sections are knobs 11a and 10a. Secured on the spindle section 11 is a roll-back member generally indicated at 12, see Figs. 1 and 10, and secured on the spindle section 10 is a rollback member 13, see Figs. 1 and 12.

Straddling the rollback members is a forkshaped retractor generally indicated at 14, see Figs. 1 and 11, and connected therewith through means of a bolt or rod 15 is the bolt 13. The retractor is adapted to be actuated either by the rollback member 12 or the rollback member 13. The rollback member 12 is provided with two rollback lugs 12a and these are adapted to engage lugs 12b formed on the retractor. The rollback member 13 is also provided with two rollback lugs such as shown at 13a and 13b. The rollback lug 13a is adapted to engage a lug 130 on the retractor while the rollback lug 13b is adapted to engage a dogging member generally indicated at 16, see Figs. 1 and 13.

During rotation of the outer knob 11a and spindle 11, rotary motion is transmitted to the rollback member 12 either in one direction or the other depending upon the direction in which the outer knob is turned. During such rotation either one or the other of the rollbacks 12a will engage one or another of the lugs 12?) on the retractor and the retractor will be reciprocated in an inward direction and, as it is connected with the bolt B through a link or rod 15 the door may be opened. Upon release of the outer knob it is returned to normal position and so is the rollback member, the retractor, and the bolt, this being due to the action of a return spring 17 which engages 2. lug 18 on the retractor.

The inner knob has two functions, first, that of retracting the retractor and the connected bolt or latch B, and, secondly, that of actuating the dogging member 16; the retractor being actuated by the inner knob 10a when it is rotated in one direction as lug 13a will in that instance engage lug 13c and thereby transmit inward reciprocal movement to the retractor and the bolt B, but if the knob is turned or rotated in the opposite direction actuation of the dogging member 16 only takes place. The dogging member, see l and 13, is disposed at the inner end of the retractor 14, it being slidably mounted longitudinally of the lock housing sections 4 and 5 upon a rod 20 supported by the head members 6 and '7. This rod also carries a compression spring 21 and this functions to normally maintain the dogging member in the position shown in Fig. 1, that is, in engagement with the head member 6. One end of the dogging member is provided with a lug 16a and the other end is provided with a cam plate 16b. During rotation of the inner knob 16a. spindle 10 and rollback member 13 in the direction of arrow a, see Fig. 12, lug 13?) engages the cam surface 162) of the dogging member and as such transmits longitudinal movement to the dogging member in the direction of arrow b, see Fig. 1, thereby bringing the lug 16a into alignment with a lug 16c carried by the retractor. With the lug 16a of the dogging member in the path of travel of the retractor, or in other words the lug 16c on the retractor, inward movement of the retractor is blocked and rotary movement of the outer knob together with the spindle 11a and rollback member 12 is also prevented and as the retractor is blocked, it is obvious that retraction of the latch or bolt B by means of the outer knob is prevented. When the dogging member assumes dogging position means must be provided for securing the inner knob 10 and rollback member against accidental rotation in the opposite direction. This is frictionally accomplished by providing a flat surface below the inclined cam surface 16b; that is, rotation of the rollback member in the direction of arrow 0. when moving the dogging member into dogging position causes lug 13b to first engage the upper portion of the cam surface 16b. The lug then swings downwardly over the inclined surface and finally registers with the flat surface just below the cam surface 16?) and as spring 21 exerts a constant endwise pressure on the dogging member suficient friction is produced between the lug 13b and the flat surface below the cam to prevent rotation of the knob 10a. and the rollback member 13, except when the knob is grasped and forcibly rotated by hand. On the other hand if the inner knob 10a is returned to normal position, or in other words rotated in a direction opposite to arrow a, see Fig. 12, lug 13b is moved out of engagement with the cam surface lfib of the dogging member and the dogging member is accordingly automatically returned to normal position by means of the compression spring 21. In this position lugs 16a and 160 clear each other and the latch may again be actuated by rotation of the outer knob.

Again, if the dogging member has been moved to dogging position by means of the inner knob and it is desired to enter or to open the door from the exterior, it is only necessary to be provided with a key such shown in Fig. 16. This key is fork-shaped at its inner end to straddle the rod upon which the dogging member is slidably mounted. It is inserted through openings formed in the outer escutcheon plate 30 and when pushed inwardly engages the end plate 15d of the dogging member moving it to a third position or that indicated by dotted lines at 31. In this position lugs 16:: and 160 again clear each other and it is thus possible to retract the latch or bolt B by rotation of the outer knob. The moment the key is removed the dogging member immediately returns to dogging position and it is thus impossible for any one, except such person provided with a proper key to enter from the outside as long as the dogging member is in dogging position. But the dogging member may be returned to normal or inoperative position by a person on the inside by merely rotating the inner knob to assume normal position.

From the foregoing it will be noted that a simple, compact latch actuating mechanism is provided wherein the inner knob may be utilized to dog the outer knob against rotation and the latch against retraction, said inner knob by reverse movement releasing the dogging member and rendering the outer knob operative. Key actuated means have furthermore been provided for rendering the outer knob rotative or operative to retract the latch so that entrance may be had from the exterior even though the dogging member has been moved to dogging position.

The knobs illustrated in the present instance are shown as journaled in the escutcheon plates indicated at 30 and 300:. This feature, however, is of no material importance as they might be journaled in the head members 6 and 7, or otherwise supported. The plate shown in Fig. 14 is internally threaded and is adjustable on a threaded extension 7a formed on the head member 7. A pair of screws 33 extend through the plate shown in Fig. 14 and they also extend through an auxiliary head member 32, which is provided with threaded openings for the reception of the screws, and they furthermore extend through openings formed in the head members 7. These screws together with the plate shown in Fig. 14 form an adjustment for the auxiliary housing section 5. No claims are being made to these structural features, hence the brief description of this part of the mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a door latch an inner and an outer knob, a retractor adapted to be actuated by rotation of either knob, a latch actuated by the retractor, a housing enclosing the retractor, a dogging member within the housing, and means whereby upon rotation of the inner knob in one direction movement is transmitted to move the dogging member into a position between the retractor and the housing so as to dog the retractor against movement and the outer knob against rotation.

2. In a door latch an inner and an outer knob, a retractor adapted to be actuated by rotation of either knob, a latch actuated by the retractor, a housing enclosing the retractor, a dogging member within the housing, means whereby upon rotation of the inner knob in one direction movement is transmitted to move the dogging member into a position between the retractor and the housing so as to dog the retractor against movement and the outer knob against rotation, and key actuated means operable from the exterior surface of the door whereby the dogging member is moved to a second position to release the retractor and outer knob.

3. In a door latch a spindle, an inner and an outer knob on the spindle, a rollback member on the spindle, a retractor actuated by the rollback member, a latch bolt actuated by the retractor, a dogging plate arranged rearwardly of the retractor and parallel to the spindle, and means actuated by rotation of the inner knob whereby the dogging plate is advanced to a position to block the retractor against movement.

4. In a door latch a spindle, an inner and an outer knob on the spindle, a rollback member on the spindle, a retractor actuated by the rollback member, a latch bolt actuated by the retractor, a dogging plate arranged rearwardly of the retractor and parallel to the spindle, means actuated by rotation of the inner knob whereby the dogging plate is advanced to a position to block the retractor against movement, and key actuated means operable from the exterior of the door for advancing the dogging plate to a second position to free the retractor.

5. In a door latch a spindle, an inner and an outer knob on the spindle, a rollback member on the spindle, a retractor actuated by the rollback member, a latch bolt actuated by the retractor, a dogging plate arranged rearwardly of the retractor and parallel to the spindle, means actuated by rotation of the inner knob whereby the dogging plate is advanced to a position to block the retractor against movement, key actuated means operable from the exterior of the door for advancing the dogging plate to a second position to free the retractor, and means for returning the dogging plate to blocking position upon removal of the key.

6. In a door latch a spindle, an inner and an outer knob on the spindle, a rollback member on the spindle, a retractor actuated by the rollback member, a latch bolt actuated by the retractor, a dogging plate arranged rearwardly of the retractor and parallel to the spindle, a second rollback member mounted on the spindle and actuated by the inner knob only, and a cam member on the dogging plate adapted to be engaged by said rollback member when the inner knob is rotated in one direction, said engagement of the cam and rollback member causing movement of the dogging plate to a position where it blocks the retractor against movement.

'7. In a door latch, a spindle, an inner and an outer knob on the spindle, a rollback member on the spindle, a retractor actuated by the rollback member, a latch bolt actuated by the retractor, a dogging plate arranged rearwardly of the retractor and parallel to the spindle, manually actuated means for imparting endwise movement to the dogging plate whereby the dogging plate is advanced to a position to block the retractor against movement, and key actuated means operable from the exterior of the door for moving the dogging plate to a position to free the retractor.

ELLIS L. WILSON. 

